French publication L’Equipe are reporting that former Ireland and Munster fly-half Ronan O’Gara may join Jono Gibbes as an assistant coach next season.
O’Gara is currently serving as an assistant with defending Super Rugby champions the Canterbury Crusaders but has been linked with a move back to France where he formerly coached with last year’s Champions Cup finalists Racing.
La Rochelle confirmed the departure of their coach Xavier Garbajosa on Monday and now L’Equipe are claiming that O’Gara will replace him on a three-year deal with his deal with the Crusaders set to expire this summer.
O’Gara was previously linked with a role in the French senior team but confirmed in his Irish Examiner column that those talks broken down.
“I had conversations with senior people in the [French Union] and I was interested in a detailed proposition, but the conversation never got to that point, to the bit where a specific role, working with specific people was on the table,” O’Gara wrote.
“I’ve heard no more in recent weeks, so I can assume it’s off the table now.”
La Rochelle confirmed in a statement that Gibbes will ‘communicate on the new organisation of sports staff at the end of the season.
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